Improvement in frames for woven-wire mattresses



G. C. PERKINS.

Improvement i'n Frames for Woven Wire-Mattresses.

N0. 131,968, Patented Oct. 8,1872.

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Hilllillllllllllil UNITED STATES PATENT GEEIoE. f

GEORGE C. PERKINS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 131,968, dated October8, 1872.

To all 'whom it may concern: v

Beit known that I, GEORGE G.PEEK1Ns,

of Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Frames for formingbed-bottoms, which require a high dey grec of tension when in use, andwhich have heretofore been stretched upon rigid frames. This is done bycombining a relaxing and straining mechanism with a folding frame andwith a device for maintaining the rigidity of the frame when in use andthe fabric is properly strained. The object of my invention is toprovide a more portablel frame than the rigid ones heretofore made useof, and at the same time possessing the requisite stiffness whenextended. i

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l represents the frame folded fortransportation, and Fig. 2 represents the same extended and the mattressstretched ready` for use.

A B A B' are the jointed side rails of the frame. C and D are the headand foot crossbars, connected by cast-metal corners to the which can beturned with a wrench and pass through nuts in the bar E. Thisarrangement permitsa movement of the bar E when the screws are turned,so as to slacken or tighten 'the web or spring fabric of which the bedis formed. h h are the hinges on which the side bars fold. p p' areplates which are firmly screwed over the joint when the frame isextended, and give it the stiffness necessary tb support the stra-infrom the wire fabric. When the frame is folded the screws on one part ofthe frame are withdrawn and the plate turned, as shown in Fig. 1.

The operation of my invention is as follows: When the frame is folded,to extend it for use it is first unfolded. The plates p p are thenscrewed firmly in their places, as in Fig. 2. The screws s are thenturned so as to tighten the wirefabric forming the bed-bottom to therequired degree of tension. To again fold the frame, the screws s areloosened to relax the tension, the plates p p are removed from one sideof the joint, as in Fig. l, and the whole is doubled up, as shown.

I do not limit my invention to the exact locking' device shown in thedrawing at p p; but any ordinary method of securely attaching the twoparts A and B may be used-as, for instance, a hook of suitableconstruction or a dovetailed cleat embracing dovetailed castings screwedor attached to A and B-in fact, any method which vwould be themechanical equivalent of the plate p.

What I claim as my invention is The combination of the jointed frame A BA B with the extending device D E and a locking device p p',substantially as and for the purpose described. GEORGE C. PERKINS.Witnesses:

THEO. G. ELLIS, BEN. A. COOKE.

